CM Siddaramaiah’s cabinet to be expanded on Saturday; new ministers to be sworn in at Raj Bhavan

BENGALURU, NEW DELHI: After two days of hectic consultations, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet will be expanded on Saturday with the induction of 24 more ministers. They will be sworn in at 11.45 am at the Glass House of Raj Bhavan.

Speaking to media persons in Delhi, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, said, “Whatever is the decision, it shall be communicated by the only person authorised to decide on this issue and that is Siddaramaiah, our Chief Minister. He discussed with the party, but finally, it is his prerogative to decide on the Cabinet. Now, we have left it for him to decide who to include in the Cabinet.I was told by him that the further extended cabinet will be sworn in tomorrow”.

AICC general secretary R S Surjewala speaking to media persons whiel leaving from Kharge’s residence in New Delhi on Friday.

Over the last two days, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have been holding a series of discussions with Congresss president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretaries K C Venugopal and Surjewala.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandh and party leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Friday.

Shivakumar separately called on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi at 10, Janpath. Sonia Gandhi is learnt to have wished the new government well and suggested to Shivakumar to provide good administration. Responding to queries from media persons while he was exiting the residence, Shivakumar only said, “Fine, everythign is fine”. On whether the cabinet will be expanded on Saturday, he cryptically said, “I hope so”.

Meanwhile, hectic preparations are under way for the swearing in of the new ministers on Saturday.